Ch.42Ah, this is seriously so unfair.

# 1.

Asha’s return to the hideout.

Nahan, still maintaining the appearance of Ian Red just in case, organized what he had obtained.

First, the <Artifact Guaranteed Enhancement Ticket>.

“This definitely goes to Iaso’s Ring.”

Even now, Iaso’s Ring helps keep him from dying in most situations, but if he uses the enhancement ticket to raise it to Ex grade?

‘Even if the worst situation comes, at least I’ll be able to survive.’

He had other ideas for using it too, but he could only be certain after experiencing the enhanced effects…

“Let’s check the other rewards that I can quickly verify first.”

Muttering to himself, Nahan’s next choice was the ‘Memories of Black Wolf Members.’

【<Black Wolf Mercenary Group>】

-Aliases: The Worst Criminal Organization, Most Wanted Fugitives, Brutal Massacrers.

-Estimated Threat Level: SS.

-Members

◆Leader: <Nahan – Black Wolf> (In Progress)

◆Deputy Leader: <Lactea – White Sword Ghost> (Access Denied)

◆No1. <Pedro – Shepherd> (Access Denied)

◆No2. <Castler – Nameless> (Access Denied)

◆No3. <Hanryang – Mask> (Access Available)

◆No4. <Luna – Persona> (Completed)

◆No5. <Dalan – Old Master> (Access Available)

◆No6. <Ruby Red – Blood Ghost> (Access Available)

The status window now showed all members’ information, with the fake information that had been displayed before now gone.

“Black Wolf is in progress and Luna is complete… Pedro and Castler? Pedro was mentioned occasionally. Hmm… Is it saying access denied because I haven’t met them yet?”

It was a reasonable hypothesis, but…

“Then why Lactea?”

The flaw in his theory was immediately apparent, suggesting it wasn’t entirely correct.

Since pondering wouldn’t yield answers right away, he decided to stop checking the rewards and called up the status windows he had put aside, one by one.

First, the red system window that had appeared when he cleared the main scenario.

【Warning.】

【As you have cleared and accepted the <Main Scenario>, we inform you that the development and ending may differ from the <Original Work – Babylonia>.】

This was something he had already anticipated.

After struggling to survive as Black Wolf, many things had changed from the original story.

Some of the original information Nahan knew had likely transformed into something completely different.

‘But change is the right path.’

The ending of the original Babylonia was a bad ending where everyone became unhappy.

Twisting the original work for a happy ending.

Simultaneously dealing with changes to the original information.

He needed to balance these two aspects to maintain the advantage of his knowledge while reaching a happy ending.

‘Out of the original 15 episodes, there are… 6 left?’

Even those were reduced since key figures of later core events, like the Rats and Viscount Gospel, had disappeared.

‘Probably 4 events remain.’

<Night of the Fanatics>,

<Sky, Earth, Darkness, Light>,

<Demon Race Attack>,

<All-Out War>.

He had already arranged the remaining events in order, and the name of the impending bad ending was <The Fanatics’ Rebellion>, so…

‘The next event is definitely <Night of the Fanatics>.’

A clichéd event where part of the goddess Aria’s religious order turns out to be fanatics worshipping something else entirely.

Of course, even if it was clichéd, Nahan couldn’t help but worry since this had become his reality.

‘If I don’t want to die, I have to do it.’

He sighed, resigned to the inevitable.

Anyway.

After organizing everything, the last thing remaining was the main quest – Hanryang & Thousand-Day Red.

“I’ll enhance Iaso’s Ring first, then look at everything else one by one.”

Saying that, Nahan finally flopped down on his shabby bed.

“This is tough, so tough…”

He suddenly missed the days when he was just an ignorant mercenary leader, but…

“Well, still… it’s better than dying without knowing anything.”

Comforting himself like that, ‘Ian Red’ slowly closed his eyes.

“…Oh, but…”

What was the contract between Black Wolf and the goddess that made her follow and help him?

‘Why me, if it’s a contract between them? And what contract? A contract with a goddess? Is there anyone I could ask about this?’

After thinking deeply but finding no answers, Nahan eventually opened his eyes and got up.

“…I’ll rest later and move now.”

When his head was complicated, at least his body should move.

“First…”

Starting with enhancing Iaso’s Ring.

Click.

He placed the ring on the floor and took out the guaranteed enhancement ticket, which looked like a golden ticket, in his right hand.

“Do I just hold it over the ring?”

As he was flipping it around to see if there were instructions on the back…

…Tap.

The fluttering golden ticket lightly brushed against Nahan’s left wrist and passed by.

And the next moment.

【Contact between <Enhancement Ticket> and <Artifact> confirmed!】

【Using <Artifact Guaranteed Enhancement Ticket>!】

A brilliant light burst forth.

【Transcendent Artifact – <Celestial Shield (SS-)> is being enhanced to <Ex> grade!】

From his left wrist.

“What the f—!! No, wait!!”

He frantically tried to remove the ticket, but it had already disappeared. In his panic, he struggled to remove the equipment, but…

【Gardner’s shield is the best in the world!! It will never break before any power!!!】

“Arghhhh!! What the hell is this now?!”

As a thunderous sound exploded in his head, what seemed to be a spiritual entity seeped into Nahan.

-[Gardner’s shield is the best in the world!! It will never break before any power!!!]

“Ugh, please shut u—”

-[Gardner’s shield is the best in the world!! It will never break before any power!!!]

“Ugh, my head is going to split.”

-[Gardner’s shield is the best in the world!! It will never break before any power!!!]

After the final thunderous triple chant, steeped in glory…

“Ah, this is so unfair…”

Thud.

Nahan collapsed right there.

【Congratulations!】

【<Celestial Shield (Ex)> has acknowledged you as its rightful owner!】

【The soul of the Founder of Iron Wall – Balak Gardner will assist you.】

Only then did he realize.

-[Gardner’s…!!! Ah, was that a triple chant just now? Let’s see, one then two, then four… three? …Hmm? What is this? A beggar with chewed-up and spat-out tendons.]

“Pl-please shut up… it’s too loud…”

-[Tsk, if it’s noisy, just don’t listen. When the body is weak, the mind suffers.]

“F… you.”

Thud.

He realized that he had gained one more noisy companion.

# 2.

Gardner County.

Though it had been devastated by the Black Wolf’s attack, it quickly regained its former glory thanks to Hestia, who had survived.

Despite the vast grounds, the buildings and mansion were built with practicality in mind.

In the top floor of that mansion, in the lord’s office where only direct Gardner family members and those recognized by the head could enter, a meeting was in progress.

The agenda was the party to be held the next day.

“Rohan. Anything else we need to prepare?”

“No, my lord.”

“Good work.”

As they were wrapping up, Hestia, who had been silent throughout, spoke up.

“We must cancel the party.”

Her small but clear voice penetrated the ears of everyone in the office.

“Hestia. I understand how you feel, but—”

As a flustered Balkan tried to take her hand while glancing at the family head, Tehelan Gardner, Tehelan stopped him and asked:

“Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

“Go on.”

No sooner had the brief exchange ended than Hestia unfolded a piece of paper.

“We’ve already been attacked twice, and both times we were defeated. By barely five criminals.”

Written on it was information about the Black Wolf and the current state of the Empire.

“While I understand the attempt to restore Gardner’s tarnished image through a banquet is a good effort, what if it gives them another excuse to attack us again?”

“Don’t worry, Hestia! If those bastards come again, then your brother will—!”

“You let them escape in the end. Despite Father, you, and even the Hero being present.”

Her night-brown eyes calmly shone.

“I’m not trying to criticize. I didn’t do much either when I was kidnapped.”

“Oh, well, thanks.”

“Have this while you’re at it. It’s jerky I prepared for you, brother.”

“Oh! Thank you, Hestia!”

Chomp chomp!

After quickly winning over Balkan, Hestia turned back to Tehelan.

“I understand. Gardner is the Empire’s largest shield. If we don’t restore our fallen reputation, demons beyond the front lines and corrupt nobles will start acting up, thinking we’re easy targets.”

Hestia’s words were accurate.

After the first attack, Gardner’s reputation had fallen to the ground, and after the second attack, it had sunk even deeper.

Fortunately, they had succeeded in driving the attackers away, and through various rumors, they were gradually regaining their lost reputation.

Taking advantage of this momentum, they planned to hold a banquet to definitively put a period on the matter.

-Come and see,

-Gardner is still strong.

Only then could they continue to act as the Empire’s greatest deterrent.

Only then could they help the Emperor suppress ‘those people.’

Tehelan, still with an expressionless face, asked Hestia:

“Knowing this, why do you still oppose it?”

“Because it’s a double-edged sword.”

The Black Wolf was subdued by the Hero’s party and Gardner, and Gardner is holding a banquet as if they aren’t afraid of them.

If the banquet ends successfully, rumors like this will spread:

-Even the Black Wolf fears Gardner.

But if…

“If the Black Wolf takes this banquet as a provocation, and attacks us again during or after the banquet…”

“We would lose our power. Significantly, to the point where recovery would be impossible.”

Tehelan, finishing Hestia’s fading words, smiled slightly and raised his head.

“The banquet will proceed as planned.”

“My lord!”

“Tsk. Such cowardice… Enough. I’ll explain further, so everyone except Hestia, leave.”

“Yes, my lord!”

With a resounding response, Gardner’s warriors left, leaving only Tehelan and Hestia in the office.

“My lord!”

“It’s alright, you can drop the formalities.”

“No! I must continue to address you formally until you withdraw your decision!”

“Hestia.”

Turning his head toward her, Tehelan asked with a serious face:

“Do you find your foolish father frustrating?”

“What are you saying…!!”

“I know too. Gardner men have been stupid for generations, so even after all this time, they’re still foolish.”

“My lord!!”

Swish.

After finishing his words, Tehelan stroked the founder’s shield placed beside him.

“But that’s why they weren’t afraid. With short-sighted thinking that only sees what’s right in front of them, they fear neither injury nor death.”

If your head is good, your body is comfortable, and if your body is good, your head is comfortable.

“We Gardners have always had comfortable heads… So I wanted to suffer alone and protect everyone.”

Click.

“But this time, I need to ask for your help, Hestia.”

As Tehelan pressed a button, the fireplace rotated to reveal a hidden space, and upon seeing it, Hestia immediately understood.

“The… Celestial Shield…”

The Gardner family heirloom that strengthens the barrier along the monster front line with its constantly generated massive aura, essential for maintaining the front line…

“It’s gone. Right after the Black Wolf’s visit.”

Hestia grasped the entire situation with just the information before her.

“You deliberately provoked the Black Wolf. Because you need to get back the <Celestial Shield> at all costs.”

Tehelan nodded.

The Celestial Shield.

The artifact that plays the most crucial role in maintaining Gardner’s deterrent power.

For now, they’re barely maintaining it by mixing residual aura with Tehelan’s own, but even that will be impossible in a few days.

If they don’t recover the Celestial Shield before the barrier fails…

“War with the demon race will resume. So we must find it by any means necessary.”

Even if the Black Wolf has opened its ferocious mouth and swallowed the shield…

“We must cut open its belly to retrieve it.”

# 3.

And so, the next day.

“Gardner’s shield is the best in the world!! It will never break before any power!!!”

With Balkan’s cheer(?), the banquet began.